JUL 29

Daniel 9:24-27
Memorise 2 Peter 3:1-14
“Where is the promise of his coming?”

WHAT ARE THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL? (II)

This period of 490 prophetic years are required (1) to finish the transgression, i.e. to remove the transgression from God’s sight; (2) to make an end of sins, i.e. to put a stop to the course of sin (Revelation 21:3-4); (3) to make reconciliation for iniquity, i.e. to atone for sins of the people (Zechariah 12:10, Jeremiah 50:4-5 34); (4) to bring in everlasting righteousness, i.e. to give true righteousness and enduring peace (Jeremiah 31:33-34); (5) to seal up the vision and prophecy, i.e. to fulfil all the prophecies of the Scriptures (Matthew 5:17-18, Hebrews 1:1-3); and (6) to anoint the most Holy, i.e. to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4).

Daniel’s prophetic programme consists of (7 x 7 = 49 years) + (62 x 7 = 434 years) + (1 x 7 = 7 years) = 490 years. When will it begin and when will it end? From the command to rebuild Jerusalem down to Messiah the Prince are 483 years (69 x 7 years). The prophetic years here are to be understood as 360-day years according to the Jewish calendar, rather than the 365-day years of the Gregorian calendar. This understanding of the prophetic year as comprising 360 days is supported by the time period as described in Revelation 11:2-3 which speaks of the middle of Daniel’s 70th week as lasting 1,260 days or 42 months. The final seven years of this present world’s history before the return of Christ is divided into two halves of 3½ years each, or 1,260 days if they are multiplied by 360.

The 69 weeks or 483 years will begin with the issuing of the decree of Artaxerxes in 445 BC (Nehemiah 2), and ends with the crucifixion of the Messiah in AD 30. The 69 weeks is divided into 2 parts: (1) the 49 years which saw Jerusalem rebuilt (Nehemiah 6), and (2) the 434 years which ended with the crucifixion of Christ. Forty years after Christ was crucified, Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus the Roman general. According to Josephus the Jewish historian, as many as a million Jews were massacred. The surviving Jews were cast out of their land, and scattered to all four corners of the earth. Between the 69 weeks and the final 70th week, there is an interval—a period of God’s patience—for He “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). But when the time is up, the 70th week will commence with the Antichrist making peace of Israel (Daniel 9:27), and finally conclude with the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16).

Thought: Are you prepared to meet the Lord when He comes?
Prayer: Lord, help me to be always ready for Thy return.